An Update on Those TV-Style Ads Coming to Xbox Live

You might have seen the news Wednesday that Microsoft is set to bring TV-style commercials to Xbox Live's TV and video apps.

According to Microsoft, the ads will be 15-30 seconds in length and will look to capitalize on the 84 hours a month, on average, U.S. Live Gold members spend on the service.

But no information was given regarding the spots' frequency.

Were there going to be brief 1-minute commercial breaks? Or would the breaks be more in line with what television does, with bloated 3-5 minute spot blocks?

We reached out to Microsoft for more information. Here's their response.

From a Microsoft spokesperson:

“The frequency of ads varies depending on the actual content within that app but most apps will have far fewer ads than a traditional TV show. That said, first and foremost, Xbox LIVE is focused on building the best overall entertainment experience. This benefits both our subscribers as well as our advertising customers because it keeps our audience engaged. We work closely with brands to ensure their message is relevant and adds value to the Xbox LIVE community.”

“[But] most apps will have far fewer ads than traditional TV. The ads are similar to traditional TV ads because they use the same format – a standard 15 or 30 second spot – and run within TV-like content on the service."